Combination-tool.



J. T. SWEENEY.

COMBINATION TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1913.

1 ,1 59,432. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

' TEE TATES PATENT @FFTQE.

JOHN T. SWEENEY, 0F KINGSTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO W. G. BROWNE MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF KINGSTON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINATION-TOOL.

Application filed May 26, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingston, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination-Tools, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to combination tools, and more particularly to a tool of this character adapted for household or kitchen use.

The main object of the invention is to provide a combination tool adapted for various uses about a kitchen, such as the opening of tin cans, the removal of friction top covers, the removal of disk closures from milk bottles, the opening of cardboard boxes, and the removal of friction bottle caps, the various parts capable of utilization for these purposes being so combined as to cooperate with other parts in the handling of the tool.

A further object is to provide a tool of this character wherein the difierent parts adapting the device to various uses may be economically assembled in the implement in a manner to secure convenience in the use of each element and the performance of its function with a high degree of efficiency.

A still further object is to provide a tool of this character wherein the pry will act as a guide in cutting paper boxes, or as a stop in removing paper bottle closures, and the bottle cap remover will act as a fulcrum in removing friction top covers. And a still further object is to provide a tool so constructed and arranged as to insure economy of production and avoid likelihood of breakage in use.

The invention consists primari y 111 a combination tool embodying therein a cutting blade, a fulcrum head formed of sheet metal, the outer end of which projects laterally across said blade adjacent to the point thereof, and the laterally turned portion of which is provided centrally thereof with a forwardly projecting pry, and a handle supporting said fulcrum head and said blade; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a 5 perspective view of a combination tool em- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915. Serial No. 769,824.

tion thereof; Fig. 3 is a projection of the preferred form of head for the tool; and

Fig. 4 is a modified form of the invention wherein the cutting blade is not made integral with the fulcrum head.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a indicates a handle having pivotally mounted therein a corkscrew b and having secured at one end thereof a tool head embodying therein various appliances or tools each of which has a specific application so as to increase the range of utility of the device for household purposes.

Carried by the handle a and pendant therefrom is a forwardly projecting cutting blade 0 for removing the tops from tin cans. Also carried by the handle a and positioned above the blade 0 is a fulcrum head (Z having a laterally deflected portion d, the end 03 of said head beyond said laterally deflected portion being turned and projected across said blade adjacent to the end thereof at substantially right angles thereto. Said fulcrum head on the side thereof opposite said blade is provided with a forwardly curved pry 6 having an elongated edge, said pry being formed on a curve in order to afi'ord a rolling fulcrum to facilitate the application of the pry below the flange of a friction top and the advantageous application of power beneath said flange. The edge of the pry is reduced to facilitate its insertion beneath said flange.

The laterally projected portion 61 of the fulcrum head is provided at the end thereof with a forwardly and angularly projected cutting point f adapted for use in removing the tops from pasteboard or similar boxes, and in penetrating the pasteboard closures of milk or similar bottles in lifting same.

The cutting point f projects in a plane at substantially right angles to that of the pry e, and below same in use, so that said pry 6 serves as a guide for directing the line of movement of said cutting point when it is used for removing the tops from pasteboard boxes, and the end portion (Z of the fulcrum head serves to limit the extent of projection of the cutting point and also acts as a guide. Hence, the fulcrum head has the threefold function of carrying the pry e and cutting point 7, acting as a fulcrum for the blade 0, and as a stop and guide for the cutting point f while in use. The pry a has the twofold .function of serving as a guide for the cutting point 7 and as a fulcrum for the bottle cap remover which will now be described.

Real-wardly of the laterally deflected portion d of the fulcrum head, is a hook g which is preferably laterally deflected as shown so as to present a bearing surface parallel with the pry 6. This hook has the twcfold function of being adapted for insertion below the fluid rim of a metallic bottle cap, and of acting as a rest when the pry c is being used for removing small friction tops from large cans.

WVhen the hook g is used as a bottle cap remover, the pry 6 will bear upon the opposite diameter of the cap and thus give a long leverage in removing this cap and applying the pressure at a point directly above the lip of the bottle, so as to cause the entire force exerted to be utilized in lifting the cap.

Preferably the blade 0, fulcrum head cl (l pry 6, cutting point 7 and hook g are all made of a single sheet of metal, although, if desired, the cutting blade 0 may be made of a separate piece of metal and united with the handle a by means of the rivets h h, which rivets are also used when the various parts of the fulcrum and cutting head are made integrally.

The use of a cutting blade 0 of separate stock is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The cutting edge of the cutting point f is inclined as shown to secure a shearing effect by a straight drawing of this blade.

In removing the top from a tin can, the blade 0 and the fulcrum head section (Z cooperate in the usual manner, the position of the pry e and'cutting point f being such as not to interfere with the action of the blade. hen it is desired to remove a friction top, the reduced end of the pry e is forced below the top flange of the top, and downward pressure exerted upon the handle a, the edge of the can being engaged by the curve of the pry which serves as a rolling fulcrum. This curve also permits the pry to be inserted beneath the rim of a friction top which comes .close to the side of the can, while bringing the fulcrum point upward so that it will bear readily upon the rim of the can adjacent thereto.

The foregoing applies to those friction cans in which the top is very nearly of the same diameter as the can itself. Then the friction top is of small diameter, however, the raised rim of the can proper would tend to interfere with the proper movement of the handle were it not for the location of the hook g which acts as a fulcrum about which the tool acts when used with a small friction top. In either case, the blade 0 acts 'as 'a rest for the finger, both in inserting the pry beneath the rim of the friction top and thereafter, when removing said top.

When using the blade 7' to remove the closure disk from a milk bottle, the sharp ened point of the narrow blade may readily penetrate the cardboard disk, and the arrangement of the hook g is such that it will bear upon the top or upon the neck of the bottle opposite to the point of penetration of the point so as to secure a suflicient leverage for removing the disk without likelihood of forcing it into the bottle with a resultant splashing of the contents.

WVhen using this cutting point 7 for opening cardboard boxes, the point should be directed downwardly below the top of the box, and the box punctured at this point, the side of the pry e engaging the top of the box and serving as a gage and stop to insure a straight cut below the top of the box. The end (Z of the fulcrum head will limit the extent of projection of the point f within the box, and under some conditions the point of the blade 0 will cooperate with the pry e in guiding the cutting movement of the cutter f. When using the hook g, the tool may be used with the blade extending perpendicularly or horizontally. In either case, the point of the hook is inserted beneath the fluted edge of the cap and drawn upward by the handle a, the pry 6 bearing upon the top of the opposite edge of the cap in the first instance, above referred to, or the point f bearing upon the top of the cap in the same manner in the other instance above referred to.

It will thus be observed that while each part entering into the tool has a specific function of its own, it nevertheless has a secondary function in relation to some other art.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such are largely matters of design and may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

extending at right angles thereto whereby said pry serves as a guide for said cutting blade, and a handle for said fulcrum head.

2. A combination tool embodying therein a sheet metal fulcrum head having a shank, the end of which is extended laterally across the end of said shank, the laterally ex- J. T. SWEENEY.

COMBINATION TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1913.

1 ,1 59,32. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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